New Alignment

March 11, 1986|By Ken Paskman

The United States Football League announced a new divisional alignment and playoff format for the 1986 season, with the league divided into two four- team divisions. The Independence Division will include the Orlando Renegades, Jacksonville Bulls, Tampa Bay Bandits and Arizona Outlaws, and the Liberty Division consists of the Baltimore Stars, Birmingham Stallions, Memphis Showboats and New Jersey Generals. USFL commissioner Harry Usher added that the 18-game regular-season schedule will open Sept. 14 and conclude Jan. 11. Playoff format: (Jan. 17-18) -- fourth- and fifth-place (second and third wild cards) teams will meet. The winner of that game will meet the division champion with the best record on the weekend of Jan. 24-25. The other division winner plays the third-seeded team (the No. 1 wild card) in another second-weekend playoff game. The two survivors then meet in the USFL Championship Game Feb. 1 in Jacksonville.